It was early in the morning, and Sirius was lazily smoking a cigarette in front of Potter Manor. The sky was blue and the air was cold. He smiled as he thought about Madeline's imminent arrival.
She was just what he needed.
He had been living some difficult days. The warmth and affection of the Potters had not made him forget about Regulus. Sirius had spent all of Christmas Day thinking about his little brother.
Sadness, anger, melancholia, betrayal. So many feelings stormed inside of him.
He loathed his family, and yet… He had never wanted to lose Reg.
He shook his thoughts away as James opened the front door and walked to stand by his side.
"Morning smoke, Pads?"
"I needed to clear my mind."
James nodded. He could understand him with little effort. He had been there for him on the 25th. Merlin, James had always been there for him.
Sirius handed him the packet of Benson & Hedges but James shook his head, "Can't. My teeth's so white and shiny. Won't ruin them."
Sirius laughed aloud and Prongs joined him.
"Madeline's arriving in a bit."
"Floo powder?" asked Sirius.
"Yeah… Listen, Pads. I was thinking… Maybe you should try see someone? When we go back to school, I mean…"
"No one interests me…"
"…But Mads, I know."
"You told me not to give up on her, Prongs."
"And I'll never tell you the contrary. But we are young, Pads. You shouldn't be so obsessed with her."
"You shouldn't be so obsessed with Evans."
Prongs smirked, "Touché. But with Evans' different. She has noone else on her mind. And I feel like we belong."
"We belong, too, Prongs. Madeline and I. Maybe we'll never be a couple. But we have a bond…"
"I know you do. We all do know that. Just… Let it be. Don't push things."
Sirius knitted his brows. "So… Date someone else?" he said, taking one last drag from his cigarette. "I'll think about that."
"Thank you." Replied James, and they both went back inside to have some breakfast.

Madeline arrived, hugged Dorea and Charlus Potter and put her things into one of the many guest rooms.
Then, Sirius, James and her moved to Prongs' bedroom and began chatting about the coming days. Madeline was sitting on the boy's bed, right under a big poster showing the Gryffindor's crest.
"So, Camden tomorrow with the others…" said Sirius "…And then we'll have a few days to organize New Year's"
"What did you have in mind?" questioned Madeline, arching an eyebrow.
The boy smiled mischievously, "The greatest party of all time."
James smiled, "We're gonna get absolutely shitfaced!"
Madeline couldn't help but laugh in front of their childish excitement. "Now, that's a plan I like" she said, nodding.
"For now, there will be us, Remus, Pete, cousin Andromeda…"
"No way!" said Madeline, excited "Meda's coming?"
"Yeah" replied Sirius with a grin plastered on his face, "Of course she is."
"Wicked" muttered the girl in response. She loved Andromeda Black.
"And maybe Alice, Frank and Lily." Suggested James, "We could ask them tomorrow?"
"Sure, Prongsie" said Madeline "That's a wonderful idea."
"Who else?" asked Sirius.
Madeline thought hard, "Maybe… Marlene McKinnon? We're all in friendly terms with her, maybe she'd like to come. If we invite Amelia, too, obviously."
Marlene was a Gryffindor of their year, and she was a pretty, genuine girl with her head in the clouds. She was best friend with a Hufflepuff lass named Amelia Riley and that was why, even if all of the sixth year Gryffindors were friends, she spent little time with them.
"Good old Marlene, eh?" asked Sirius with a certain interest. "Yeah, why not? I shall write to her. The girl's always loved me. And plus, if Amelia comes, Pete won't complain about not having new girls to meet."
Madeline laughed lightly, "I forbid you to play with Marlene's feelings, Pads. She's so naïve."
James shrugged, "Maybe she will see who she actually decided to love. Pads' not exactly Prince Charming."
The girl rolled her eyes. "Believe me, I know" she said, and Sirius gave her a false offended look. "You hurt me my love!"
They all laughed when, suddenly, Sirius' face changed and James and Madeline exchanged a look.
"What are you thinking about, Pads?"
He sighed, "I'm sorry, really. Every now and then I think of Reg, and… I don't know, I just get sad."
Madeline paled at hearing Regulus' name. Sirius' little brother too had became a Death Eater on Christmas day. She thought of Severus, crying in her arms, telling her he had taken the mark, kissing her so gently she could hardly believe there was an ounce of evil in him…
"I think it will take some time to deal with it" said James, "It's not an easy thing to acknowledge."
"Yeah, Pads" added Madeline, giving him a kind smile. "You don't have to act tough in front of us. It's okay to feel sad… I feel sad too, about this whole situation. About the war."
"It's getting closer…" muttered Sirius.
James nodded, and Madeline saw more than a kid in his hardened features. He looked like a man, then.
"It is, Padfoot. And you know what? We will be ready to fight."
"We will" stated Madeline.
Sirius looked between the two of them, and nodded in return. "We will."
James smiled. "So, Camden tomorrow?"
His friends seemed to instantly cheer up, "Can't wait! Camden's magical, man. You'll love it."
"True" said Madeline, "But, Prongsie, promise me to behave. We all know you do stupid things when Lily's around."
"Me? Doing stupid things? Not in my nature"
Madeline and Sirius both raised their eyebrows and looked at each other before starting laughing aloud.
"You look like a fool whenever Evans' close!" said Padfoot.
James pouted, "I only want her to date me."
"Yeah, but pranking her or yelling at her you are too good to be true are not good techniques!" retorted Madeline, bemused.
"And what should I do, Cupid?" Asked James, crossing his arms in an annoyed way.
"You should just act normal, Prongsie. You're a handsome, charming, young man, funny and brave, clever and kind..."
"Oh, Mads, dear. I didn't know you had a crush on me!"
In response, the girl took one of the pillows on his bed and threw it at him. "And stop acting like a child!" she added, and the boys laughed.
"Mads' right, mate" said Sirius, "You're wonderful, brother. You stink a bit, sure…"
"You stink, doggo!"
"Yeah yeah, the stag's talking… Anyway, act disinterested. Lily Evans will be yours."
James seemed to think about that. "I'll try… But I can't promise you anything! I just can't ignore Evans… She's too beautiful... And her smile's enchanting... Her skin looks so delicate... Oh, and her hair! Fiery, just like her soul, of that I'm sure..." He said, with dreamy eyes and a vacant smile on his lips.
Sirius and Madeline rolled their eyes and shook their heads.
"He's a lost case, Pads." commented the girl.
"Wise words, Mads. Wise words." agreed the boy, before taking another pillow in his hands, and throwing it in the direction of his best friend.